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Professional Staff

Alison Stamm - Executive Director

Alison Stamm is honored to be serving the broad membership of Temple Sinai, as Executive Director. Having joined Temple Sinai's staff in 2006 she has over a decade of connection with our members. Alison believes that the strength of our synagogue lies in the innovative ways in which we build Jewish community and fortify Jewish identity.

With a clear passion to inspire the next generation to live as actively engaged members of the Jewish community, Alison has held faculty positions in the National Federation of Temple Youth and the URJ summer camps network. She has also been recognized nationally and internationally for her innovative work, receiving The Jewish Education Project's Young Pioneer Award and SAJES 20/20 Vision Award. Alison is a regular presenter at regional and national conferences, and she served in the 2014 cohort of Paradigm, a group that convenes annually in Stockholm, Sweden to discuss issues of Jewish revitalization in Europe.

Alison graduated from McGill University as a certified teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.

Originally from Montreal, Alison now lives in Port Washington with her husband Matt and their children, Josie and Rhodes.

Debbie Neuschatz - Nursery School Director
Debbie Neuschatz brings a wealth of experience to Temple Sinai Nursery School. Her warmth, enthusiasm and expertise, as well as her wonderful creative ideas enhance and expand the rich opportunities offered at Temple Sinai's Nursery School.

Debbie grew up on Long Island and received her B.A. in Psychology and Elementary Education from SUNY New Paltz. Debbie also holds a Masters Degree in Special Education from Adelphi University and has served on the board of JECA (Jewish Early Childhood Association) since 1996. She attends annual conferences sponsored by ECE-RJ (Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism) and runs workshops for staff members.

Debbie has a wide range of experience from pre-school through grade 12 as well as Special Education and is always available to give tours of the Nursery School.

Debbie lives in Roslyn Heights and has two daughters, Molly and Joanna.

Lauren Belferder - Director of Youth Engagement

Lauren Belferder, also known as Lulu, has been part of the team at Temple Sinai since 2012. Among her many roles, she has coordinated the Chazak program for children on the autism spectrum, taught Religious School classes, assisted with the 6th grade Holocaust class, and chaperoned countless teen trips. Lulu has directed Sinai’s Hand in Hand program since its inception in 2014. This innovative opportunity has allowed our teens to partner with the New York City Department of Homeless Services to bring children from homeless shelters to our temple for mentoring and social activities. This initiative has been highly successful, and Lulu and the rest of us at Temple Sinai are very proud of all the teens involved.

Lulu’s dedication to the Reform movement and her strong belief in the importance of education for students of all ages, have motivated her to lead a dozen Birthright trips, as well as service learning trips for teens, through the URJ’s Mitzvah Corps program.

Lulu holds a Bachelor of Arts in Judaic Studies from Hofstra University, and a Master of Science in School Counseling from Long Island University - C.W. Post Campus.